Downshifting

Never seen anything said that says not to downshift..... Just don't downshift into first. Other downshifting is fine. However, I would not use the downshift to slow your car down. ie. down shift 5-4, 4-3, 3-2 to come to a stop... that is just silly to put that pressure and wear on your clutch when there is a square pedal you can press on.

 

Well said!

 

Under normal driving conditions, about 90% of your clutch wear is at take off. This applies to F1 and manual. Clutch wear is relatively a non-issue but why would you put the F1 system through so many unnecessary motions, if you don't have to? With that said, I down shift for the f#$K of it all the time just to hear the car roar, pop, scream

 

Downshifting = no harm, if done properly.

 

Enjoy the cars - and just buy a new clutch when needed.

 

+1

 

Why are you down shifting? If it's to slow the car...then no, thats what brakes are for. If it's to be in the right gear to accelerate out of a corner, then yes.

Bob

 

Down-shifting in a manual car CAN be bad if not done properly. An example of an improper down-shift is one in which the user is not rev-matching. When the clutch is in neutral to select a new gear, the engine rpm is not at the same speed as the new gear being selected. The engine must be revved up to the same speed as the new gear to eliminate stress and wear and tear on the engine and engine mounts. You can hear the engine moving up to speed and the jarring/squeeling sound coming from the engine when one doesn't revmatch on downshifts.

However, obviously this is not an issue with the F1 transmission. It makes perfectly rev-matched downshifts. Every time. All the time. There should be minimal if any extra stresses put on the clutch when downshifting. That being said it isn't really necessary to downshift when your coming to a stop sign. You know you have to stop anyways, use the brake.

 

I would rather pay for brake pads than a new clutch....

 

So, what many of you are saying is, if you cruising at 60 mph and are coming to a stop light, just use the brakes and do not touch the F-1 paddles, correct?

Thanks,
JJ

 

Exactly.

I downshift all the time b/c it's fun. If I need to replace my clutch a little earlier b/c of it, I don't care. To me downshifting is half the fun of having an F1 tranny.

Frank

 

Are you kidding me??!!! Why on earth would you think you can't downshift to slow a car???! Especially if you need to slow fast or maybe F1 drivers have it all wrong??! For sure rev matching is important part of the puzzle and the F1 system does it perfectly. I have a '99 ECU in 360 and I have only dropped 1% on the clutch wear in a year of driving, including track time and street driving and I always downshift! Clearly the manual takes no issue with the procedure, just don't do it close to red line in a manual. Driving a F1 the system will not allow you to shift when the rpms are to high.
I guess its one of those great debates and some will drive one way and some another!

Happy motoring!

Robert

 

+! I race cars and it would be very difficult to not downshift. How many times are you on a mountain or twisty road and use the gears to remain in the torque curve? I can understand when stopping at a light why it is not necessary to downshift and ca also understand the fun of downshifting just to listen to the motor, but there are also many times (at least the way I drive) when there is no need for braking but downshifting. I have never experienced excessive clutch wear on my F-1 cars as a result of downshifts. Clearly, if you eliminate the rev limiter or even if you pound the limiter frequently, you will experience unhappiness, but other than that, downshift all day long. Best

 

or new brakes )

 

+1+1!

 

I just put my feet through the floor boards to slow down...no brake or clutch wear....just new sneakers

 

what about doing the same thing with manual gear? I know it's impossible to match the RPM rev but after couple try you can get it little bid over or under.

 

Shift the bloody car. That tranny is there for a reason.

 

There is no doubt that downshifting at high revs (computer won't let you downshift if the revs are too high) helps a lot with braking as the rear wheels are capable of providing more stopping power than street car bias allows in dry conditions. Any racer knows that downshifting during braking is often the difference between being able to pass and being passed under braking. F1 makes this a fun game. Heel and toe is a different matter where it can all go very wrong. In a Formula car with a sequential box and left foot braking, correct blipping makes all the difference in the stability of the car. You can immediately hear the difference of a skilled driver in downshifting - the revs will be higher but the car will be smoother.

 

I don't own a Ferrari and have never driven an F1 transmission, but I have driven a stick for 40 years. I always downshift through the gears to keep the engine in proper torque range or when slowing for a turn, but I never use the engine as a brake. If I need to come to a stop, I drop the tranny into neutral and use the brake. Two things seem clear to me:

1) If you synch engine revs ( I also synch the gears by double clutching) then you will not put any undue wear on the clutch.

2) Using the engine as a brake is a bad idea. Think of all the heat that is created at the brake pads when you use the brakes to dissipate energy and slow the car. Now how do you think that same amount of energy is dissipated if you choose to brake with the engine instead. That's right, the same heat has to be generated, but this time it's generated inside your engine. Heat accelerates wear. Where do you want wear to take place? On the brake pads or inside your engine?

Synch revs and you won't wear out your clutch when down shifting, but don't use the engine to brake.

 

no other car in the world can produce such beautiful music when downshifting (not california).....so JUST DO IT!

 

+ 1 also

 

+1

 

just curious then, when most of you come to a stop, do you put your car in neutral and then brake? that is, instead of braking and letting the car go through the downshifting process until you get to first?

i drive an F1, and when i stop, i go ahead and pull on both paddles, then brake. i think the stop is smoother this way and avoids the excessive downshifting that occurs by just using the brake while NOT in neutral. any thoughts?